Affordable Mars Exploration Architectures: Applying Systems From The Commercial Development Of Space

Abstract

This paper discusses the possibility of leveraging systems concepts and technologies needed for the commercial development of space in innovative, affordable human Mars exploration architectures. Since the late 1980s, various space agencies, industry and university groups have examined a diverse set of human Mars exploration options. In the United States, the 1989 Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) initiated a continuing series of studies and assessments of options for human exploration. Typically, these studies have focused first on the exploration mission itself and have attempted to optimize key mission metrics—such as the initial mass in low Earth orbit (IMLEO)—through the use of government-developed systems. In light of these concepts, technology needs have typically been identified. Occasionally, potential secondary value of these technologies to terrestrial and space applications has been assessed. An alternative approach might involve a consideration of commercial investments might best be leveraged in exploration missions. Such an approach might begin by determining what technologies and systems concepts are needed to enable the robust commercial development of space, and then attempt to use these technologies and concepts in devising human exploration of Mars scenarios; an approach of this type is presented here. This paper examines a variety of prospective commercial space developments—ranging from near-term plans to far-term opportunities—and draws from these a “tool-kit” of potential systems and technologies that might be applied in constructing a more affordable Mars exploration mission architecture. A notional scenario for applying commercial space development technology and systems in a Mars architecture is described. The paper concludes by comparing and contrasting some of the relative benefits of the two approaches and suggests that—if commercial space development is a viable goal—such an approach may substantially strengthen support among international and US policy-makers for human exploration missions. The paper includes various graphs, tables and conceptual renderings of potential commercial space and human exploration approaches.